This bill would reform U.S. assistance to Egypt, installing new congressional oversight procedures, conditionality, and other restrictions. These measures, if passed, would lift the hold on military aid to Egypt put in place after the military overthrow of Pres. Morsi in 7/2013.
Specifically, the bill would amend existing U.S. law forbidding the transfer of aid to a government in which a democratically elected leader is deposed by a military coup. The new language would allow, in those situations, for U.S. aid to support democratization activities or democratic elections.
The bill would condition economic aid and any sale or transfer of U.S. military equipment on, inter alia, Egypt upholding its 1979 peace treaty with Israel and making democratic reforms, excluding military articles designated for use in counterterrorism activities. These conditions would terminate on 9/30/16 if the secretary of state certified that Egypt was upholding the 1979 peace treaty, countering terrorism in Sinai, permitting U.S. armed forces to transit Egyptian territory, and holding regular elections. In addition to the time limitation and the new conditions on aid, the bill would designate certain amounts of annual aid to Egypt be spent on democratization programs.
In terms of new oversight procedures, this bill would require reporting on each of the provisions above, in addition to requiring the secretary of state to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for modernizing and improving U.S. security cooperation with Egypt. Also, disbursement or alteration of aid to Egypt would require consultation with the Cmte. on Foreign Relations, in addition to the Appropriations Cmte.
Sen. Menendez also submitted this measure as an amendment to the Senate’s NDAA (see S.A. 2522 of 11/21/13 to S. 1197).
No cosponsors.
Last major action: 12/18/13 placed on Senate legislative calendar.